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like to have information on this subject in order to assist the Association
in its preparation of evidence to be submitted to the Committee set up
by the Ministries of Housing and Local Government, and Fuel & Power,
to examine this matter.
A special meeting of the Public Health Committee was held on the
20th October when I presented a report on air pollution in the Borough
generally.
The report was adopted by the Council at a Meeting on the 28th
October, and details are appended:—
(1) Sources of Pollution
Pollution of the atmosphere comes from two main sources, viz., (a)
Industrial and (b) domestic. It is estimated that domestic fires are
responsible for about 50 per cent, of the smoke production throughout
the country. In this Borough the proportion of domestic smoke to
industrial smoke emitted is probably higher than this figure. Contrary
to popular belief, noxious smells however unpleasant, either from polluted
rivers or from offensive trades, do not contribute materially to the
production of fogs or " smog " and are a separate problem.
(2) Smoke and Fog Conditions
A fog or " smog " (a combination of smoke and fog) is produced when
a high concentration of smoke and sulphur gases in the atmosphere is
accompanied by high barometric pressure, high relative humidity, little
or no wind and a low ground temperature. These are the conditions
which prevailed during the fog period of 5th—9th December, 1952, when
in Deptford deaths from cardiac and respiratory diseases were more than
double for corresponding periods of previous years. The elderly and
the very young were most severely affected and, indeed, many are still
suffering from residual effects.
Smoke is due to the imperfect combustion of coal, especially soft
bituminous coal. Perfect combustion of coal in an open grate fire is
almost impossible and every open grate fire contributes its quota of smoke
to the atmosphere. Industrial smokes are emitted for a variety of
reasons, e.g. :
(1) the use of fuels unsuited to the type of furnace;
(2) too much or too little draught in the furnace;
(3) draught not passing through or over the fire;
(4) careless or irregular stoking;
(5) the forcing of the fire on account of insufficient boiler plant;
(6) obsolete furnaces and appliances.
Smoke from railway engines, although not contributing a high proportion
to the overall pollution, does cause serious nuisance in the
vicinity of large railway termini.
(3) Industrial Smoke —Statutory Powers
In regard to industrial smoke, the powers of Metropolitan Boroughs
are mainly governed by the provisions of Section 147-154 of the Public